Joseph Zacharek

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Police Department — Chicago, IL

Felonious

End of Watch June 8, 1894

The Vigil Panel 12 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 6

Incident

Location: Illinois Weapon: Handgun Offender: Acquitted

Night Watchman Joseph Zacharek, alias Joseph O'Harek, was shot and killed while attempting to remove three trespassers from a boxcar at the intersection of Oakley Avenue and Kinzie Street in Chicago, Illinois.

He was patrolling the railroad's Western Avenue yards when he encountered the three men attempting to board an outgoing train. He was shot and killed as he attempted to remove them from the train.

All three men were charged with Night Watchman Zacharek's murder. Charges against two were dismissed and the third man was acquitted at trial.

Joseph, On today, the 125th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice as a Law Enforcement Officer.

BPA Mike Casey United States Border Patrol El Paso Station June 8th, 2019

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-RR-6F983C07
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

132 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Night Watchman Zacharek served with the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Police Department

Location Chicago, IL

Platform Identity cmspprpd.rr.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 8, 1894

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Acquitted

Night Watchman Joseph Zacharek is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In IL, 842 of 1,318 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 9.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Police Department, 7 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Police Department

of 7 officers

100% Felonious

IL — Statewide

842

of 1,318 officers

63.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious